Health expert Claire Warnes appointed to Commonwealth Games board

Health expert Claire Warnes appointed to Commonwealth

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Claire Warnes, a Partner in the firm’s Healthcare team, has been appointed to the Commonwealth Games Wales board.

Claire is a former Welsh international athlete at 400m, and a Partner in KPMG’s Risk Consulting practice. She leads KPMG's work on healthcare regulation and professional standards, as well as major change projects across the public sector. As such, Commonwealth Games Wales will benefit from her expertise in public policy, corporate governance, leadership and board effectiveness.

Claire said: “I’m truly delighted to take up this position. I’m passionate about the role sport can play in inclusion and equality, which I know are the very ethos of CGW. I’ve been lucky enough to be a mentor on the Women Ahead leadership programme connecting business and elite sport, and I’m also a member of the Advisory Board of the Women’s Sport Trust, and these have given me further insight which I shall bring to the CGW role.

Commonwealth Games Wales Board Chair, Helen Phillips, said: “Commonwealth Games Wales is no longer an organisation that appears every four years, it now has an everyday purpose with significant responsibilities and accountability. It is essential that the Board is robust and represented by a field of highly skilled individuals that are passionate about sport in Wales and driven to do the very best for the athletes.

“We expect personal bests from our athletes, we should expect no different from our Board. The Board annually reviews its role and as such identified the need for specific skills that Claire offers in abundance.

“Claire’s not just an expert in the field of governance and policy but has a significant appreciation why our athletes are at the heart of all our decisions. We are grateful to KPMG for supporting Claire to undertake this role, a role that I have no doubt as a proud Welsh person she will relish and make significant difference whilst doing so.”

Melanie Richards, Vice Chairman at KPMG UK, said: “This Board position is a fantastic opportunity for Claire to be able to share her immense talent, experience and knowledge in a role outside KPMG. I am sure Claire will make a significant contribution to the success of the Commonwealth Games Wales team.”

Chris Jenkins, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games Wales, said: “The opportunities and key decisions our Board will have to make in the coming years will be made easier for us with Claire’s professional background. We have a fantastic Board with different personalities and areas of expertise which allows us to be ambitious and driven to ensure everything Commonwealth Games is in good hands. I very much look forward to Claire joining us.”

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To arrange interviews or for further information, please contact the CGW PR team by email pr@teamwales.co.uk or call Dwynwen Williams on 07733 337140 or Tim Powell on 07939 571553.

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About Commonwealth Games Wales

Commonwealth Games Wales is the national body responsible for selecting and sending elite athletes to compete for Wales at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.

They are the lead voice for Commonwealth sport in Wales, and work with other agencies, including national governing bodies and Sport Wales, to create a world-class performance environment to enable athletes to perform at their very best.

Alongside 71 Commonwealth Games Associations, Wales is a member of the Commonwealth Games Federation and is one of only six nations to have competed at every Commonwealth Games, previously known as the Empire Games, since 1930.

They are an independent organisation, partly funded by the Welsh Government through Sport Wales. They raise the rest of our income through sponsorship and commercial partnerships.